What is the story behind the Japanese cat?

The story behind the Japanese cat traces back to ancient folklore. In the tale, a cat saves the life of a samurai who turns out to be quite wealthy. To show his thanks, the man made a very generous donation to the temple. In Japanese culture, cat sculptures and figurines are symbols of good luck and known as “maneki-neko.” Find a range of Japanese decorative objects on 1stDibs.

Japanese Cat Figurine

Wooden Cat Sculpture

Hand Carved Wooden Figurines

Antique Japanese Signed Imari Porcelain Figurine "Cat Riding a Turtle", Ca. 1890

$2,500

H 7 in W 11 in D 15 in

Antique Japanese Signed Imari Porcelain Figurine "Cat Riding a Turtle", Ca. 1890

Located in New York, NY

Antique Japanese Signed Imari Porcelain Figurine of a Cat Riding a Turtle, Ca. 1890 DIMENSIONS

Category

Antique 1890s Japanese Japonisme Animal Sculptures

Materials

Ceramic

Mid-Century Vintage Ceramic Funny Fat Cat Figurine – Mottled Green & Brown Glaze

$290Sale Price|20% Off

H 6.3 in Dm 6.3 in

Mid-Century Vintage Ceramic Funny Fat Cat Figurine – Mottled Green & Brown Glaze

By Frankoma Pottery

Located in Bochum, NRW

A striking mid-century ceramic funny fat cat figurine that would add touch of rustic elegance to

Category

Vintage 1960s Japanese Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures

Materials

Porcelain

Recent Sales

Old Japanese small wooden cat / 1920-1980 / Cat figurine/Showa era

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H 6.74 in W 3.27 in D 3.23 in

Old Japanese small wooden cat / 1920-1980 / Cat figurine/Showa era

Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba

wooden cat made in Japan during the Showa period (1920-1980). It is a simple sculpture, and I think it

Category

20th Century Japanese Showa Sculptures and Carvings

Materials

Cypress

Japanese Antique Wood Carving Cat 1860s-1920s /Figurine Animal Sculpture Object

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H 10.04 in W 5.52 in D 4.73 in

Japanese Antique Wood Carving Cat 1860s-1920s /Figurine Animal Sculpture Object

Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba

Old Japanese wood carving cat. It seems to be from the Meiji era to the Taisho era. (1860s-1920s

Category

Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Sculptures and Carvings

Materials

Wood

Meiji Period Maneki Neko Cat Figurine

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H 12 in Dm 5 in

Meiji Period Maneki Neko Cat Figurine

Located in Point Richmond, CA

Antique Japanese porcelain maneki-neko, or "beckoning cat", a popular image for welcoming good

Category

Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Animal Sculptures

Materials

Ceramic, Porcelain

Japanese old wooden carved cat and small gourd figurine/1938

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H 3.35 in W 7.68 in D 1.82 in

Japanese old wooden carved cat and small gourd figurine/1938

Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba

This is a wooden cat figurine made by a man named "machida-sadao" in 1938. A very cute sleeping

Category

Early 20th Century Japanese Showa Animal Sculptures

Materials

Wood

Old Cat Figurine Made of Japanese Pottery / Calligraphy Equipment / Edo-Meiji

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H 2.52 in W 2.88 in D 2.17 in

Old Cat Figurine Made of Japanese Pottery / Calligraphy Equipment / Edo-Meiji

Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba

A cat-shaped calligraphy tool of "Bizen ware" made from the late Edo period to the Meiji period

Category

Antique 19th Century Japanese Meiji Sculptures and Carvings

Materials

Pottery

Japanese Antique Wood Carving Cat 1860s-1900s / Figurine Sculpture Wabi Sabi

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H 6.7 in W 10.24 in D 4.73 in

Japanese Antique Wood Carving Cat 1860s-1900s / Figurine Sculpture Wabi Sabi

Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba

This is an old Japanese wooden carved cat. It is from the Meiji period (1860s-1900s). The

Category

Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Sculptures and Carvings

Materials

Cedar

Antique Japanese Nemuri Neko Kutani Porcelain Imari Cat Kitten Figurines 12"

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H 5.5 in W 8.5 in D 12 in

Antique Japanese Nemuri Neko Kutani Porcelain Imari Cat Kitten Figurines 12"

By Imari Porcelain

Located in Dayton, OH

Antique porcelain Imari sleeping cat and kitten figurines featuring gold accents and red bandana

Category

Mid-20th Century Japanese Chinoiserie Animal Sculptures

Materials

Porcelain

Japanese Old Wood Carving Cat 1860s-1920s / Antique Figurine Animal Sculpture

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H 9.85 in W 5.32 in D 4.34 in

Japanese Old Wood Carving Cat 1860s-1920s / Antique Figurine Animal Sculpture

Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba

Old Japanese wood carving cat. It seems to be from the Meiji era to the Taisho era. The material

Category

Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Animal Sculptures

Materials

Cedar

Takahashi Porcelain Playing Cat Figurine Hand-decorated with Butterflies

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H 3.5 in W 6.25 in D 3.25 in

Takahashi Porcelain Playing Cat Figurine Hand-decorated with Butterflies

Located in Clifton Springs, NY

Rare porcelain figurine of a playing cat is hand decorated with butterflies and leaves designs and

Category

Mid-20th Century Japanese Chinoiserie Animal Sculptures

Materials

Porcelain

Old Japanese black maneki-neko object / 20th century / lucky ornament

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H 10.4 in W 5.99 in D 7.01 in

Old Japanese black maneki-neko object / 20th century / lucky ornament

Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba

Here is a Japanese "Maneki Neko" (beckoning cat) figurine from the Showa era. It is made from

Category

20th Century Japanese Showa Antiquities

Materials

Plaster, Clay

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Japanese Cat Figurine For Sale on 1stDibs

Find many varieties of an authentic Japanese cat figurine available at 1stDibs. Each Japanese cat figurine for sale was constructed with extraordinary care, often using ceramic and pottery. Your living room may not be complete without a Japanese cat figurine — find older editions for sale from the 19th Century and newer versions made as recently as the 21st Century.

How Much is a Japanese Cat Figurine?

Prices for a Japanese cat figurine can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — at 1stDibs, they begin at $500 and can go as high as $100,194, while the average can fetch as much as $16,590.